Key Thought

Today's Prayer

I am moved, Abba Father, to speechless wonder and awe that you should love me so. In the incredible expanse of your creation, I know that I am physically just a speck of dust in comparison. Yet you know me, dear LORD, and it matters to you how I respond to your love. Please know, Father, that I choose to love, honor, cherish, and live for your glory out of my appreciation of your love. In Jesus' name I offer my thanks. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"I am not talking about all of you. I know the people I have chosen. But what the Scripture said must happen: 'The man that shared my food has turned against me.' I am telling you this now before it happens. Then when it happens you will believe that I AM. I tell you the truth. The person that accepts anyone I send also accepts me. And the person that accepts me also accepts the One who sent me." After Jesus said these things, he felt very troubled. Jesus said openly, "I tell you the truth. One of you will be against me." Jesus' followers all looked at each other. They did not understand who the person was that Jesus was talking about. One of the followers was next to Jesus and was leaning close to him. This was the follower that Jesus loved. Simon Peter made signs to this follower to ask Jesus who the person was that he was talking about. That follower leaned closer to Jesus and asked, "Lord, who is it that will be against you?" Jesus answered, "I will dip this bread into the dish. The man I give it to is the man that will turn against me." So Jesus took a piece of bread. He dipped it and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. When Judas took the bread, Satan (the devil) entered him. Jesus said to Judas. "The thing that you will do—do it quickly!" None of the men at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. Judas was the one that kept the money box {for the group}. So some of the followers thought that Jesus meant for Judas to go and buy some things they needed for the feast. Or they thought that Jesus wanted Judas to go give something to the poor people. Judas accepted the bread Jesus gave him. Then Judas went out. It was night. When Judas was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man receives his glory. And God receives glory through the Son of Man. If God receives glory through him, then God will give glory to the Son through himself. God will give him glory quickly." Jesus said, "My children, I will be with you only a short time more. You will lookfor me. And what I told the Jewish leaders, I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come. "I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other like I loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other." Simon Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow now. But you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I am ready to die for you!" Jesus answered, "Will you really give your life for me? I tell you the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me."

Related Scripture Readings

The Lord saw that the people on the earth were very evil. The Lord saw that people thought only about evil things all the time. The Lord was sorry that he had made people on the earth. It made the Lord very sad in his heart.

Then Jesus went with his followers to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his followers, "Sit here while I go there and pray." Jesus told Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to come with him. Then Jesus began to be very sad and troubled. Jesus said to Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, "My soul is full of sorrow. My heart is breaking with sadness. Stay awake here with me and wait." Then Jesus walked a little farther away from them. Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't give me this cup {of suffering}. But do what you want, not what I want." Then Jesus went back to his followers. Jesus found his followers sleeping. Jesus said to Peter, "You men could not stay awake with me for one hour? Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right. But your body is weak." Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this {painful} thing to be taken from me, and if I must do it, then I pray that what you want will be done." Then Jesus went back to the followers. Again Jesus found them sleeping. Their eyes were very tired. So Jesus left them and went away one more time and prayed. This third time he prayed, he said the same thing. Then Jesus went back to the followers and said, "You are still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be given to sinful people. Stand up! We must go. Here comes the man that is giving me {to my enemies}."

Jesus said to them, "Go tell that fox (Herod), 'Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out of people and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, the work will be finished.' After that, I must go, because all prophets should die in Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You kill with rocks those men that God has sent you. Many, many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather your people together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me. Now your home will be left completely empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until that time when you will say, 'Welcome! God bless the One that comes in the name of the Lord (God).' "